Kiana Gonzalez Cedeno
Kiana González Cedeño is an educator, writer, and curriculum and learning experience designer whose work sits at the intersection of cultural research, storytelling, and public impact. Currently an Assistant Professor at Texas Christian University, she specializes in race, gender, Afro-Caribbean histories, and Latinx and Puerto Rican popular culture. Her scholarship and teaching emphasize ethical, non-extractive storytelling and the translation of complex ideas into accessible, engaging learning experiences that resonate with diverse audiences.
With a background that spans higher education, publishing, and learning design, Kiana brings deep expertise in long-form writing, editorial development, qualitative research, and cross-functional project management. Her academic training includes a PhD in English and a master’s degree in Hispanic and Latin American literatures from Michigan State University, where she also spent nearly a decade teaching and contributing to curriculum development. Across her roles, she has led projects from early concept through publication, always centering equity, representation, and audience-centered communication.
Guided by a commitment to community-centered research and reciprocity, Kiana balances teaching, research, and service while contributing to initiatives that document cultural memory and lived experience, particularly within Caribbean and Afro-diasporic contexts. She is especially drawn to opportunities in publishing, editorial strategy, corporate training, and mission-driven organizations where research, narrative, and learning design converge to create meaningful social impact.
• Michigan State University- Ph.D.
• Michigan State University- M.A.
• University of North Florida- Bachelor's
• University of North Florida- B.A.
• Honorable mention for best dissertation from the Puerto Rican Studies Association
• Premio Promesa
• Spanish Honor Society
• Puerto Rican Studies Association
• National Women's Studies Association
• Latin American Studies Association
• Latino Studies Association
• American Educational Research Association
• Women of Color Initiative at Michigan State University
• Caribbean Digital Scholarship Collective
• Diaspora Solidarities Lab
• After the Storm Collective
• Center for Puerto Rican Studies
• Sigma Delta Pi
• Graduate Student Association
• After the Storm Collective
• Orlando Church of Christ
• Jacksonville Church of Christ
What do you attribute your success to?
I immediately think of community. I'm not a single pillar. I do believe that it's through the mentorship of women of color, particularly, and really women and women of color who have really paved ways for me, have helped me in the journey, have described what this profession is. I also really think, you know, I'm really grateful to God and to my ancestors. I always say that I'm always listening to them. They always tell me what to do. I particularly attribute my success to my paternal grandmother, who I never met, but she's really loud in my life and tells me what to do. But also, my grandmother, Delicia Rios, she always told me to go to school because no one can take away your education. No one can take that away from you. I got the highest level of education, right? And I have excellent parents who really did the best they could. My dad supported me through college, my mom has always been my confidant. My husband also has been super supportive, and he makes sure I can go to conferences, go to the archive. I think, for me, my successes are really communal, and full of gratitude for guidance, both earthly guidance through mentors and advisors, and heavenly guidance. I think it's part of my journey, too.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell her to trust in your gut. Trust that you are knowledgeable. I feel like, often, we live in, or rather, the professional world could really make you feel, or make one feel insecure, or make one feel like, do I know things? So I would say trust your gut and trust in the questions that you're asking. You do belong there, and find your people. People are gonna be there for you, and stick with them, because the best way is to do it through community. And I'll also say, trust in your knowledge. I think whatever is for you will be there for you, so no one's gonna take a position, like a job offer, if it's meant for you. No one's gonna take that away from you. So, always think about that you do belong in the spaces that you insert yourself in, you are knowledgeable, find the people that are gonna root for you, and whatever's for you will be there for you.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think, honestly, community is so crucial to the work that I do, and also to my successes. I feel like I'm accountable to communities. I study Afro-diasporic communities, and I want to make sure that I treat that responsibly. Being in community with them, and also realizing I'm not the knowledge holder of everything. I think getting a PhD, what it helped me understand is that I know very little. I can tell you a lot about this one niche thing, but there's much to learn. So I really try to be respectful, based on respect, honor, community. I tried to adopt like I'm an invited guest. I don't want to ever be extractive of community and culture, so I tried to really employ that when I do my research, and even professionally. I'm a very pay-it-forward person, too. I think about reciprocity. Those are some of my big values. I don't believe in gatekeeping. So if anyone's like, hey, how did you write this grant? I'm like, oh, here's my grant application, things like that. I mean, obviously with discernment, but I do believe in being a good colleague. You should share.